PS 3525 

P848 
S5 
1915 
Copy 1 



tlent 




(©race 

^etiDewon ^"^ 
9@at{)eUi0on 



t>Uent foxtts 



by 



(©tace ^enDctson agatftetoson 



Los Angdci, California 

MCMXV 






These thoughts I send to you 

— who understand. 



©CI..A393731 
«C0/ 



Silent foxtt^ 



PANAMA EXPOSITION. 

A VALENTINE. 

A BIRTHDAY. 

LOVE 

SILENCE. 

DOUBT. 

THE PILGRIMAGE OF TWO SOULS. 

MY DREAM. 

THY MOTHER 

NO AGE. 

THE VIOLETS. 

HOPE 

FAITH 

JILTED 

THE SHADOWY FOREVER. 

MARGUERITE. 

LIFE. 

FORSAKEN. 

DIFFICULTIES. 

THE RED ROSE. 

DISAPPOINTMENT. 

DECEMBER. 

CHRISTMAS. 



Copyright^ 1913^ by 
Grace Henderson Mathewson 

FEB 23 1915 



®n Cl)e 

"}0anama €tpo&ition" 

Dedicated to Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst with 
appreciation for her many kindnesses to women. 

Here stands our California 

In royal rohes of our loved state; 

Proud of her San Diego missions, 

All smiling as we celebrate. 

Her flower wand of yellow poppies 

She waves and waves above her strand, 

And opens wide her '' Golden Gate'* 

To friend and stranger in her land. 

Arching over land and sky 
The golden glow of SoVs grand bow 
Sheds color and radiance on fruits 
Mid flowered slopes in warmth or snow, 
Until the very shadows Mss 
Amid the fragrant orange groves, 
Whose perfume creeps into the night. 
To sleep and drowse within the coves. 

The wind that sighs and laughs and sings. 
And dances to its lute-like strains, 
On mountain range all capped with snow; 
Through wooded dells and flowered plains. 



Roaming like some celestial soul 
From sunny clime to snowy peaks; 
And Mowing fog from off the deep, 
On San Francisco while she sleeps, 
With wonders filled our golden state 
Stands like a fairy goddess — proud — 
With beauty blessed and halo crowned, 
Her birds in chorus carols loud 
The welcome in their prayer and song; 
From seven hundred miles they throng ; 
Hosannas sing in varied tunes, 
Upon this bright and glorious morn. 

May hopes in showers and blessings rare 
Keep from each heart the specter^' Fear" — 
And sunshine days be first and last 
To greet each guest, and you, my dear; 
Ring out your welcome and your praise, 
You cloister bells of missions old. 
On California's peaceful shores 
With loving blessings manifold. 



THE VALENTINE 

Perchance, could spider's head but carry 

All the loving thoughts of fairies, 

Pd send him to my sweetheart's room. 

To spin his web beyond the broom; 

Upon the web should sparkle kisses, 

With clinging sighs and yearning wishes, 

And tied with true love's knot should be 

My fancy's love on bended knee. 

A silvered woof of finest thread 

He'd spin to thee, within thy bed. 

And he should sing a pleading song 

To wake thee — tho' perchance, 'twere wrong- 

JJpon the earliest ray that shines 

Of the dear old day — St. Valentine's; 

And near thy heart I'd have him kneel. 

And bind it fast, and place a seal; 

And when thine eyes were open, dear, 

I'd thrill the silvered woof, nor fear 

To turn my shrinking fears to dares. 

And whisper soft a lover's prayers. 



A BIRTHDAY 

Afar in the distance, where sight can not reach 

O'er the myriad grains of the sands of the beach, 

Countless worlds revolve in the sky 

And vast creations in the deep ocean lie. 

Out into space the eternal Thought 

Afar and a-near with intelligence sought 

The heart of creation, where it might abide — 

To serve in constructing the universe wide. 

Into the vibration of Maternity's hymn 

Thought whirled in confusion with rhythm and din, 

Till, clasped in the arms of Life and Love 

These three great powers chanted above 

In the blue of the ether through the ages long, 

Till the whole earth responded to knowledge in the 

song. 
Wisdom, understanding from, knowledge, awoke, 
And spirit and mdnd in unison spoke. 



Alas, as the shadows that follow the sun. 

So discord, followed close upon 

The harmony of knowledge, spirit and mind, 

Giving birth to experience, sad hut kind, 

Which haunts the earth with the sorrows of time. 

One secret, of all creation sublime, 

Leaped into the sovereignty of the human soul. 

Then desire came with liberty that foretold 

Of the Spirit of God that dwells in each man. 

And that he mmf attain, through laws, the ^'7 AM.** 

Create for thy soul the kingdom of heaven 
Through Harmony* s laws and the rhythm of Seven. 
The pulsation of Truth uribars the door. 



LOVE 

Out from the ether's silence, 

As the perfume steals from the flower, 

Just a thrill, a thought, a quiver. 

Such a breathless, passionate flutter 

Leaped in the blood of my heart; 

And the throbbing of such an etnotion 

Sent my thoughts just raving with love; 

And the spirit of passionate longing 

Reached out in the early dawn. 

The air was spicy with sweetness; 

The flush of a pinh-colored morn 

Was kissing the dew from the flowers. 

Just as my spirit, enraptured, 

Crept close to your silent heart. 

My fingers were trembling, darling. 

My heart was throbbing with pain. 

As, knocking, I asked to enter 

The life of all lives for me, 

Where the soul life of both shall be quickened 

In love's perfect realm of thought. 



SILENCE 

My heart is aching, my heart is cold, 

Its love lies lifeless, the story is told. 

How shall I struggle through all the years, 

And bravely smile through memory's tears? 

Hoiv shall I live through toil and care, 

So tired and faint with the cross I hear? 

Each minute of day is a grieving mile, 

Without thy voice or thy loving smile. 

Today I delight in thy trusting heart, 

Tomorrow it's silent in its grave apart. 

Not unrememhered, remote and afar. 

But locked in the cell of memory's star; 

Into the drear, dread silence I cry. 

If loving were vain it were better to die. 

Can God have decreed it in heaven so vast 

That earth's sweet love can never outlast 

The puzzling and sorrowful problems of life, 

Of our desolate lives in their daily strife ? 

For ivho coidd be happy in heaven so grand, 

If love, as an outcast, must wander earth's land? 

To win but one smile from his sweet loving eyes, 

I fancy I'd steal from the blue of the skies. 

And close to my heart I woidd nestle his brow, 

To whisper it then, as I whisper it now. 

The raptures of heaven are cheerless and drear. 

If the realm's golden portals be closed to thee, dear. 



DOUBT 

Misgiving and dismay had seized me. 

I walked in vaulted ways, 

The captive of a horrid dread, 

I looked, — and looked upon mAj dead. 

A pierced and shrieking hope 
Begged of the human miseries, 
"Is there a God? Tell, tell me this; 
Why torture me with thy cold kissf 



A ghost without a heart — 

An empty dream of loss — 

This longing, throbbing, praying want. 

This pallid doom so gaunt. 

Creepinq doubts in mouldy shrouds 
Wrestled with dismal mystery. 
Ghastly agonies of sickening dread 
Slept in coffins of their dead. 

Phantom] hands their woe express, 
Beseeching one — the Ear of Mist — 
"Go thou, — rest in terror's tomb — 
Thou strange and awful gloom.' ' 



THE PILGRIMAGE OF TWO SOULS 

God sent His spirit from some land, 

In two great souls to live, 

And through the ages hand in hand 

Experience led them on. 

Within the quickened spirit slept, 

Which was both deaf and blind; 

But from the silent forces round 

A timid thought, but kind, 

Touched the garment of a hope. 

And the spirit sighed. 

The senses wakened from their sleep 

By some Earth-haunted gleam; 

And on the delicate, vibrant waves 

Of thought. Love slept and dreamed. 

Time watched and waited o^er these souls, 

And, from their life's discord, 

Brought music of grand harmony 

That led them to their Lord. 



MY DREAM 

While in the gray of dewy eve, 

I watched the ocean's ehhing tide; 
And let my drifting fancy weave, 

A dream so sweet that Cupid sighed. 
At first I woke from sleeping sweet, 

By fragrance sent from blossoms fair, 
I lay upon some mossy seat. 

Where sun and shadow kissed the air. 
With tender, clinging vines was shaped 

By liberal nature's God-like hand, 
A bower of green, in garlands draped, 

A very dell in fairy land. 
The bees and birds in concert sang 

While spiders wove their silver threads, 
And floating, dulcet echoes rang 

Through lofty trees, whose bending heads 
Were gay with Autumn's red and gold. 

The stately golden rod grew near; 
And modest, blushing roses told 

Their tales of love to sweethearts dear. 
The roguish little elfin winds 

Would laugh, and sigh, and linger yet — 
To shake my roof of emerald vines. 

Then whisper soft their fond regret; 
But wandering Cupid found me there 

And waved his wand of secret spells — 



A longing sadness filled the air 

From hopeless hearts of mute blue bells. 
A perfumed hush of rare delight 

Breathed lulling peace o*er shrubs that slept, 
And dreams on pinions of the night, 

Sobbed out their drowsy tales and wept. 
An agitation in the air 

Awoke me from my slumbers light, 
A cloud of blossoms everywhere, 

Imprisoned me and veiled my sight. 
Then formed from, out the petals white, 

I saw — my dream, my own dear love, 
How I have longed from morn till night — 

To see, to speak, to touch my dove; 
I've watched, and pined for thee, my sweet, 

I plead and prayed, and sought in vain; 
Wotdd God but deign to let us meet. 

To still the throbs of heart and brain. 
But lo! She glides to me, my own. 

Her pure and loving lips touch mine; 
^^ Darling, '' — I whisper — what isH I heart — 

Cold blows the drear and grieving wind. 
Thundering, the waves break at my feet, 

The gathering shadows round me crowd — 
And wake me from, my vision fleet. 

Poor heart — thy dream lies dead. 



THY MOTHER 

When thy dear mother said to thee, 

"Forget not God, and pray for me, 

Thy mother's prayers are always thine, 

And God grant, son, thy prayers he mine,'' 

Didst thou then dream that toil and strife 

Would he so tangled in thy life? 

That good intentions go with fears 

And sleepless conscience hathed in tears? 

Perchance some maid with artftd smile 

Hath led thee many a thorny mile; 

That shining days lead on to sorrows 

Through dreary trains of dark to-morrows ; 

Oft leave thee sunken, hruised and lame — 

Yet fear not, friend, for God is love. 

Storms Mack heneath are hright ahove; 

Hold on, dare on, undaunted strive 

To keep the spark divine alive. 

Through suffering, then, thine eyes shall see, 

And every manly deed shall he 

A means of strength for sterner strife 

And lead from high to higher life. 

Go where you may, through age and youth, 

Stand fast, stand firm, hy rigid truth, 

Thy mother's voice he quick to hear, 

And God he ever with thee, dear. 



^ 



NO AGE 

Old! Don't tell me years can make me old, 

My soul has just begun to live! 
Years! They're to my spirit golden spheres, 

Or gems, strung round my brow, to give 
Light, where else would be eternal night. 

Time! What though he marks me in each line 
And sprinkles silver through my hair — 

Strong — I feel it not. I only long 
To burst my bonds, to mount in air. 

To blaze my soul felt beauty on your gaze. 

Wings! Would some kind power but lend me wings 
Or free me from this dross; I'd rise 

And shine, immortal youth and beauty mine; 
Revolving in the upper skies 

I'd sing with all the morning stars that ring 
Eternal anthemts to their King. 



VIOLETS 

The New Year came to both, dear. 

She hrotight the flowers for you, 
But in their tender calyx lay 

For me — their tears of dew. 
Heard you their whispered words? 

Spoke soft in perfumers lines 
They rose in every breath you breathed 

The sweetest thoughts Love finds. 
Perchance you only saw in them 

The flowers you love the best, 
And sent a careless, straying thought 

To nestle on their breast. 
It pained the trusting violets 

And fllled their eyes with dew — 
The bending heads of hungry blue — 

But lived in dreams of you. 
The loving thoughts flew back to me 

And veiled their heads from vieiv, 
Forgotten, dimmed their faded eyes. 

Their life they gave for you. 



HOPE 

Hope is a glimmer, a shimmer, a gleam of a ray. 

To trust in hope is the cheer we cherish each day, 

Is the heart filled with sunshine of confidence, fervent 
and clinging. 

Of promising, rose-colored fhought or desire that is 

winging, 
Which forms out of wishes 
A halo encircling all thought. 



FAITH 

Faith is the essence of the oneness of all. 
The secret of growing that lies in a seed 
Is a chemical transit evolved from pure faith, 
Like the kernel of truth that quickens each soul. 

JILTED 

The day's depressing hours have passed, 
And, gathering in the gloom of eve, 

My fainting hopes seem dying fast; 

I, kneeling, pray to ask hut leave 

To soh my life away in tears. 

If God would still my aching heart 
And turn thy heart to me in thought, 

I'd pierce thy love as hy a dart. 
Until within thy pain thou sought 
My comfort and my tears. 

Ah! weary is the heart that sighs — 

A bride to love unkissed — 
Whose dying hopes eternal cry. 

Whose tears, like seas of mist, 

Enshroud my love's lone grave. 



THE SHADOWY FOREVER 

Your picture is lying before me, 
And I look in the depths of your eyes; 
I search for something that's missing, 
That something that dreamingly sighs. 
The pain of eternally guessing. 
And the yearning and pleading of love. 
Is time that is passing and grieving; 
And the hope that I crave from above 
Stands mute in a dreary forever. 



MARGUERITE 

Dear Marguerite: 

All life is sweeter far 
Because God made thy petaled star. 
You grow in silent peace and grace, 
No envy dims thy flower face. 
From out your golden heart doth flow 
Rich perfume, on thy fringe of snow. 
You smile in sun, you smile in shower, 
You cheerful, grateful little flower. 
Your face is bright with hope and love. 
Because some angel from above 
Bas told you of a secret joy. 



LIFE 

Every life has had its fusses, 
Circumstances seem such musses. 
For you and I have had our crosses 
With so many, many losses. 
Life for some is serpent's hisses: 
Life for some is smiles and kisses. 

Let our minutes dressed in prayers, 
Bravely tread through hours of cares; 
And our hopes, with sunshine fraught. 
Crowd depression from our thought. 



FORSAKEN 

Far out across the vast beyond I stand — 

I trace the foot-prints of my years of life, 
Scarce can I tell the place I trod the sand — 

Yetf heavy was each step from worldly strife. 
Not e'en the echo of my tired cry 

Can reach across the darkened path of death, 
And in the darkness all alone I sigh. 

I can not voice a message through life's breath. 
The perfume of a flower drifts on the breeze, 

The flow'r's face is sad and white — forsaken. 



DIFFICULTIES 

Perhaps you have had a mixed interview, 

From which your feelings are considerably askew; 

And just as you're vanishing out of the door, 

Your umbrella — just spiteful — has dropped on the 
floor. 

When stooping, the draught from the open door rushes, 
And off goes your hat, notwithstanding your blushes, 

And you scramble and tumble and hit your bent elbow. 

While your eyes see the stars and the colors of the 
rainbow. 

Your temper flies with it, and then, in a stew. 
The flush on your brow is all beaded with dew. 

— As a friend, I advise, the best course to pursue 
Is to stvallow quite hard and bow your adieu. 



THE RED ROSE 

Within the dainty petals of the rose, 

A mist of golden pollen from each rose, 

And from the loving cup of calyx green 

Fairy love drank of the dew between; 

The perfumed stamens of each perfect flower 

That blossomed mid the green of garden bower, 

You dearest fairy blessing of mankind — 

The people sometimes call you madly blind — 

History tells of all the roses red. 

Some have died, were crushed, or bled; 

But the rose of love is blooming still 

That no snow or frost of life can kill. 

Our fairy love is in the rose asleeping 

If our deeds and thoughts are in God's keeping. 

'Tis true the story of the roses red 

Where the radiance of God's light is shed. 



DISAPPOINTMENT 

A weh of mistakes I have woven, 
And the pain of grieving regret 
Vibrates its delicate meshes, 
Till I long, — how, — I long to forget. 

My heart is dreary, with aching, 
My hopes are stifled with dread, 
A cycle of misty intentions 
Surround the graves of my dead. 



DECEMBER 

It is December, cold and drear, 
The oldest month of all the year; 

And from his cloak of glistening snow, 
He lifts his hand, and h ending low, 

He smiles upon the Christmas cheer 

And leaves God's Messing with you, dear. 



^< 



Christmas'' 



In the gray of the early dawn 
Before the day is fairly horn, 
Creep glad cadences and the swells 
From waking birds and mission hells. 
God is Love. 

For the Christmas-tide is horn 
Amid the glories of this mom, 
Bringing greetings, hlessings, peace. 
To still the aching in our hearts. 
And the toil and strife shall cea^e. 
God is Love. 

From the olden mission hells 
Each life's story tells and tells 
Of the joys and grieving sorrows 
Born each day — uncertain morrows? 
God is Love. 



Coming from the powers above. 
Is a wealth of wondrous love 
Surrounding each and every life 
Bringing harmonies out of strife. 
God is Love. 

Blessings tell ye brazen bells 
From the mountain peaks and dells, 
For the spirit — sleeping man — 
Love has broken his cruel ban. 
God is Love. 



